Billionaire to face court over lottery
A high-profile Australian billionaire is set to face trial accused of illegal lottery activity over a year in South Australia.
Adrian Portelli, 36, and his business Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd, which trades as LMCT+, had charges brought against them by South Australia's Consumer and Business Services in 2024.
Portelli has been charged with nine counts of conducting or assisting in the conduct of an unlawful lottery, while his business has been charged with 10 counts of the same offence.
Consumer and Business Service SA alleges unlawful lottery activity was carried out between January 29, 2023, and May 16, 2024 through Portelli's high-profile prize giveaway business.
Court documents reveal Portelli and LMCT+ are accused of operating a lottery open to South Australian residents without a licence to do so in the state. Melbourne billionaire Adrian Portelli is accused of running an illegal lottery in South Australia. Credit: Social Media.
The court documents details allegedly unlawful lotteries for: a home seen on The Block in Gisborne, Victoria or a cash prize of $3,000,000
a Devil Yellow HSV VZ vehicle, valued at more than $50,000
a Toyota Landcruiser 79 Series vehicle with a Barcrusher 670c, valued about $228,000
a cash prize of $250,000
another Victorian property seen on The Block valued at approximately $2,900,000, or a cash prize of $2,500,000
a home seen on The Block in Hampton East, Victoria, or a cash prize of $2,000,000
a cash prize of $500,000
a 2022 Toyota LC79 vehicle, valued about $150,000
a Holden HSV WM Grange vehicle, valued about $40,000
a property at Coomera Waters at the Gold Coast in Queensland valued at approximately $1,300,000, or a $1,200,000 cash prize
All 10 alleged unlawful lotteries 'involved an element of chance', meaning they fall under the category of trade promotion lotteries under South Australia's Lotteries Act 2019.
Within hours of the charges in 2024 Portelli had posted on the LMCT+ Instagram account, writing: 'It's okay SA we still love you.'
On Thursday, Portelli didn't legally have to appear in court with his lawyer speaking on his behalf, his social media placing the billionaire currently in Singapore.
His lawyer didn't provide a comment to media.
Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal set the matter for a two-day trial in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in September.
It is expected that two witnesses will be called to give evidence on behalf of Portelli.
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